KEY POINTS:
Here is an earlier selection of Your Views:
Sam (Auckland)
So the Labour government has ruined an entire generation, stolen all our money, and are right now laughing on their way to the bank. Surely it isn't that bad! Lets face it, everything that a government does has its positives and negatives, its beneficiaries and its losers. Electric trains? I'm not going to use them because I live half an hour away from the train station. But, I can see how it will improve the lives of the people who do regularly take the train, and if it encourages use of public transport, then that's less cars on the motorway. We also need to wake up and realise we are 10 years behind the developed world and the upgrade needs to be done.
Us on the Shore
The 10c a litre tax will make no difference, we will still be using our car to commute to the city and back. Why, pure economics of course.
Petrol for the month = $120 (small 1000cc car)
Parking for the month = $150 compared to:2 Bus tickets for the month = $350. So do the maths, why on earth should we pay more to inconvenience ourselves and also lose the flexibility to come and go to work at times which suits us? So, our petrol costs will increase, but so will the bus fares to pay for the increase in diesel price. Status quo...
Toronto Canada
I spend 2 months most years in the Auckland area & have watched your approaching gridlock with interest. We have similar problems plus the severe deterioration of existing road surfaces.
A fuel tax will only work with responsible government to insure it is only used for the purposes intended & some form of accountability such as an annual report by an independent auditor.One of the essential factors missed when considering public transportation is how to get from your residence to the transport source.Parking facilities are generally full & this is a major reason to use your car. Oil companies have never experienced such huge profits with Exxon over 40 billion last year & they are still raising fuel prices when their costs are basically the same. Adding a fuel tax just might decrease the rate of increases we have seen in the cost of fuel as people would just have to use less, & cause a reduction in supply, leading to a surplus that would increase competition & lower prices.
Ajay
Why the hell do we need to pay an additional 10 cents to fund this electrification? Aucklanders have been paying for decades, taxes in our petrol prices that have gone into a consolidated trust fund account that was supposedly set up for Transport funding? This funding money has been used as a personal slush fund by subsequent govts to use in other areas, most of it swallowed up in govt admin costs & other cost wastage, when it should have been put back into transport or roads? And even if this 10 cents extra is charged, what guarantee do we have that the govt will put this extra revenue back into transport? None because there is no transparency in what they do with these taxes. Also, this should be a national tax & not a regional one as Aucklanders have funded building roads in every other region bar there own & have funded the magnificent highways to nowhere,down in the south island, which no one uses because theres no population down there. Give us a break. Us Aucklanders have already funded most of the roads & transport in this country & are getting sick of constantly being hit in our pocket thru petrol taxes!
Tom
Dr Cullen is really telling you Jaffas to move out of Auckland and stop whingeing with another gas levy. A regional tax will take the heat out of Auckland sails by forcing people to re-locate elsewhere. No more traffic woes or other infrastructure problems as you Jaffas roll onto another spot. Property will dive overnight.
Marko
I think the government is trying to wind back the clock on public transport. In New Zealand it has been encouraged, and probably always will be, to have your own vehicle. My guess on the whole 'public transport tax' is because of the large congestion all across the city. The extremely long wait times on motorways. But I somehow don't think it will improve much even if they had a huge budget, mainly because of the areas they would have to knock down in order to build two lanes. If you catch the train, which I'm sure most of you haven't because it's so useless. back to the point, many parts of the train line have buildings/gates/peoples property on either side. If only they thought about the future 50 years back, they might have a very good transport system now, and I'm not only talking about trains but 'spaghetti junction' which has more bridges going everywhere than I have ever seen. Not only that but dangerous turns where its not even safe to go 80 through. (West to north shore onramp). So in conclusion, the NZ government can't turn back time, Auckland will stay congested for atleast 5 more years and most aucklanders will always prefer the car, over the stinky slow train.
CJ (Ponsonby)
About time. NZ is so backward. We need electric trains to run fast and frequent services. Then people will use them. Electric trains are also quiet, so Town Planners can intensify development around stations. Perth and Brisbane have never looked back from making similar decisions 10+ years ago. It makes me laugh reading all these negative comments. You would think you're your Views readers had never been overseas. Rail and public transport has been neglected for decades. All that cheap petrol we had has been at the expense of infrastructure investment. Motorists should pay - they are responsible for congestion and pollution. It is time to bite the bullet and cough up.
Emma
I say no to a petrol tax - we already pay extra to the government for it. They've got a budget surplus, why are they asking for extra money? Want to talk about "inflationary pressures"? Think of the cost increases to everything if petrol is another 10 cents a litre. And the biggest joke? I live and work in central Auckland (although work and home are not within walking distance) and cannot get any form of public transport to work. Unless I wanted to walk for kilometres, catch two buses, and arrive late to work.
Clean Air (Auckland)
Aucklanders should have been paying the same price for Petrol as those in the south. Have you ever visited Wanaka?. They pay the highest petrol charges in the country as its so hard to get too - Meanwhile Aucklanders get a free rid?? Also if its going to help with Public Transport then lets go for it. Its time to invest in alternative fueled vehicles people.I agree with the Petrol tax for assisting with the environment as well - think twice when filling the tank. Also am in favour of the company tax reduction - great idea to give back to employees. A good solid budget.
Matt
This tax is ridiculous. People in this country are poor enough already because of the rubbish left wing taxes. Businesses and people are going to suffer. Businesses aren't going to have as many customers because of this because the tax will mean that people cannot afford to use their car to go to stores and using public transport is just too uncomfortable, smelly, slow, long walk at each end, crammed full of people, etc, etc. People will suffer because prices of everything will go up. Food prices will increase because trucks are used to transport the food, prices of goods and services will increase because business will not be able to get by on the reduced customer numbers. This country will suffer. This country would fall apart with out Auckland so all you non- Aucklanders, give it up, you couldn't get by without us.
Ralph
Kiwi sometimes so self centred. I think Cullen's budget is great, personal tax cuts are the last thing we need right now, all it would do is create further inflationary pressure which would lead to further raises in interest rates then a higher dollar and really kill our export industy. But most kiwis want tax cuts thinking that they will be better off for it when they won't. Not when the factory they work for is closed and sets up in China. Business tax cuts a however a good idea as they promote industry and allow for a greater profit to be reinvested in business growth. I also agree with petrol tax. The roads need to be sorted and brought up to world -class standards I think this is a good way to pay for them. It was going to happen really after Akl put the stop on tolls which is in effect in almost every other major city in the world. However this budget will probably cost the labour government the next election as most Kiwi really have no idea what Cullen is doing and are really only interested in what it in for them.
Anne-Marie
In answer to Colin (Central North Island) and Daniel Godfrey: Supply and demand will always drive prices, that's the way the market works. And when a quarter of the population lives in Auckland, and a substantial amount of people in Wellington on top of that, there is a very high likelihood that those are the very people you will hear from. Let's get off the stupid "bash Aucklanders" bandwagon and have some clear and insightful thought instead. Oh yes, and I vote for the secession of the North Shore from Auckland!
Phil
More money for the slush fund!!! Better roads ,yeah right.
Karen
Well looks like public transport prices are going to go up in price to cover the petrol tax too. I guess that the politicians will be giving themselves a pay raise again this year, I haven't had one of those in 4 years so my spending power is down further. As for saving keep dreaming. Budget surplus what a joke, Auckland has been once again taken to the cleaners.
John (Auckland)
For all those that live outside of the greater Auckland region and don't see why 'their' taxes should be used to fund Auckland roads I've got the perfect fair and equitable solution. Taxes should be divided up and allocated on a pro rata basis to the region where the tax was collected. With more than a quarter of NZ's taxpayers residing in the Auckland Region I think our share should more than cover the funding required!
Carolyn (Howick)
Again we are having to pay extra tax for an upgrade of the rail service that doesn't service the whole of Auckland. I live in Howick and the nearest train station is Panmure. I work in Ellerslie so I'm half way there already!! Don't tax us if we don't have any other options!
Albert
All along I thought there is already a component in the existing petrol tax to cater for infrastructure. Or am I wrong or is there a gross mismanagement? I think Cullen thinks all Kiwis are stupid enough to be conned by the "freebies". Well, about 40 per cent of voters were conned in the last election, comes next election, I pretty sure not so many will be conned. He sucks up as much as he can from the people and give some back claiming that Helen and he is "helping" the people. Start planning your farewell party Helen & Cullen.
Chanel (Auckland)
Isn't it funny the number of people outside of Auckland saying its about time Aucklanders pay for their own roads? Work it out people! Aucklanders do pay for their own roads.....and yours! With around a quarter to one third of the population living in Auckland and paying their taxes, well its not like we get all that money put back into our roads. No it is used to service and build your lovely roads in your lovely city with a 1000 person population. Did you really think that you were able to pay for your own roads with your population?
Outraged Student (Wellington)
To slap yet another tax (not just the petrol one) is adding insult to injury. As other students have already commented, this hits us hard, even though we do use public transport a lot. The student-welfarist system is really screwed up. Until I turned 25 (and became eligible for the student allowance) I was in a better day-to-day financial position. I had no cap on my earnings (I typically work 10-20h per week while studying) and I was able to borrow up to $180 per week for living costs (what a joke of an amount!).Once I turned 25, I was able to receive and keep more (i.e. about $230 per week) as part of the student allowance which does not become part of my student loan. Did I mention that while dad does OK financially (workwise), as the eldest of 7 kids, the means-testing of their income to determine my eligibility for the student allowance means squat! A better system would allow students to choose how hard they work (and not slap them so hard for it) after all, our situation should be determined by our efforts not some crappy government system. This government does not have a good record on student policies, it is just the opposite. Pathetic.
Charles
Thank you very much for your kind taxation! This Govt is bleeding the middle working class whom pay all the taxes and collect no benefits. Unfair... And, regional tax on petrol unfair on all voters!!
Jerry Flay
In times of crisis, all Labour governments revert to type - trying to tax their way out of the problem. It is a lame duck budget anyway - Cullen won't give anything away now, preferring to save it all for vote winning next time around - not that that will save them.
East Tamaki
Yay! More Tax!! Maybe if the Government allowed the Auckland region to ban cars from certain areas and build cycleways, we would solve all our problems in one hit. Bicycle = cheap to run & park Bicycle = no more obesity epidemic Bicycle = no more pollution Bicycle = no billion dollar roads required! It is quicker to cycle 30km to work during peak traffic times than it is to drive the same distance. On yer bike!
Peter
If we could be 100 per cent certain that the tax was used, or was to be used, for roading and public transport improvements, then it's a good thing. Unfortunately, by nature, our politicians continue to spout the same old BS and there is never any accountablilty for where the money goes.
Paul
Those of you complaining that the extra charge of up to 10c per litre is going to cripple you financially I assume are all driving small, fuel efficient cars with an additional catalytic converter which would save a hell of a lot more for you than the 10c a litre charge will cost you. It will be very sad if you are moaning about 10c while ignoring the many fuel saving options available to you. Those complaining that you can't get buses and trains where you are or if you could it takes so long to get anywhere so shouldn't have to pay for it. Ummm... Not sure but I think that could be one of the major reasons why they want to get this money and invest it in a better public transport system which you will be able to use and get you out of the traffic jams you complain about when your not busy complaining about the Govt trying to fix them. How about all you moaners form a political party of your own that in the next election promises to reduce personal taxes, lower petrol taxes and without reducing spending on anything else, build lots of new roads without charging the users for them. Then illegalise traffic jams so that all the new roads never get them. That'd be way better!
Stan
Massey University Student said" "I just wish the government would stop for a moment and consider those who earn on the poverty line - whilst still working our butts off studying up to 12 hours a day to later become the next generation of trained professionals. Perhaps we will die of starvation before we get there." Look mate! You always can buy a pack of chips for NZD 1.50 - this will keep you going and our cleen and (green) water is almost free from the tap!But as you can see the electrical train will produce a big noise and will remind people to vote for Labour next election again as the walls of cars in this train can be used for election ads!
John S
Sir Dove Myer Robinson wanted the mono ail in Auckland to ease the transport problems. Everyone complained about the cost and voted him out. Remember how long ago that was? What has happened since? Traffic, traffic and more traffic. At some time something is going to have to be done to fix it. The longer you wait, the more expensive it gets. London Underground shifts something like 12 million people a day in real short time. A fantastic feat. Time something was done in Auckland because although you face a petrol rise now, in time to come you will pay less because your journey will take a lot less time if the job is done properly. As for everyone leaving for Australia? Crocodile tears. If everything was so bad in good old Kiwi land, why are we getting so many migrants wanting to live here from all countries in the world?
Steve J
Finally, Auckland can get with the 20th century and have electrified rail, that is cleaner, quicker and more user friendly that the current diesels. A thought for all those whinging about the 10c increase (the same ones that whinged about tolls to get projects completed are they?), if in the 1950s and 1970s plans for electrification had have gone through, there is a good chance with expansion of the network that you would not be chained to your car. As for petrol taxes going into the general fund, another media outlet notes that government is spending more on transport than it collects in taxes/levies, but ring fencing this is still a good idea.
Steph
Michael Cullen/Helen Clark do you ever read Your Views? This is the time to do it. This is public opinion. Yes, I'm from Auckland - but your fuel tax on top of the fuel taxes you have already imposed upon us are the final straw. I didn't vote for you last time, I won't ever vote for you and I hope the rest of the country comes to their senses and follows suit. When you try and wheel out your personal income tax cuts this time next year (pre election bribe) I can only hope it fails. Why did I ever return from Australia and dream of settling back in the country of my birth? Your legacy has been to ruin it for a whole generation of us.
Still driving
I'll still be driving - it'll still be cheaper for me and my partner to drive to work, than pay the unsubsidised 'public' transport rates.
Motorist (Auckland)
Diesel trains we have now do the same job the flash electric ones will. If people wanted to use trains, they would use them now, regardless whether they are diesel or electric. The government is looking at maintaining $6 billion surplus every year, makes me wonder what chunk of petrol tax will go towards that? If thetaxpayers are already paying for beneficiaries, their state housing etc, that means that we will need to pay more for their gas too, once the gas prices increase everything else will increase in prices to, due to higher transportation costs. it just does not look like a good way to battle inflation if you ask me, why not introduce capital gain tax on properties instead, investors in housing market are the ones causing inflation and are getting richer, they are the ones who should pay for better Auckland, once they start doing so, the housing market will slow down and we wont need to worry about inflation as much and everyone will be able to afford to pay towards better Auckland, except for beneficiaries, because we will still pay for their drunken a......
Ian (Auckland)
What a cheek. He says Govt is going to electrify the Auckland rail network yet on the other hand the public of Auckland are going to fund it with an extra 11.25cents per litre ( 10 cents plus GST ). Just like the rest of the budget they give somewhere by taking somewhere else so that people are no better off. Cullen doesn't trust the NZ public to manage their own affairs - if we get a tax cut we would not spend it properly so he will spend it on our behalf because he knows better. Also how about the double dip of 1.25cents per litre ( GST ) in tax on tax. Also Aucklanders are paying for transport infrastructure that benefits the whole country - take a look at the importance of Auckland to the overall NZ economy. It would be far better to apply tax per litre at a far lower rate but across the whole country - on my rough calculation it would be only about 3.5cents per litre.
Finatic
Dr Cullen, not all of us live off 6 figure incomes like you do! Why don't you and all your colleagues take a wage cut? Petrol tax is just another tax hike in disguise. And they wonder why people struggle to save up enough money to buy a house!How many 'sheep' will let these dictators force us to use an inadequate public transport system?
Former Labour Voter
I live in Auckland and am a shift worker so it's not really practical for me to rely on public transport to get to and from work. Dr Cullen has decided to keep my personal taxation level the same and levy me an extra 5 to 10 cents a litre for petrol therefore effectively making me poorer. I can't in good conscience vote any further left than Labour and the far right are too scary to ponder so that leaves one practical option. What have you got to offer Mr. Key?
Robert Egginton
No way is a 10 cent a litre "surcharge" on fuel for Auckland needed. The Government has thieved enough tax from motorists over the years. I am sick to death of the tax money wasted on reports, committees & consultants when it was obvious in the sixties that motorways should have been a priority. A 10 cent impost is no different to a toll - a concept which has been firmly rejected by the Auckland public. Any candidate who agrees that a 10 cent increase is needed is a "goner" at this year's local elections.
Colin (Central North Island)
I want to know how this petrol tax is going to be kept in the areas its for and not subsidised by the rest of the country? Aucklanders are complaining yet us who live in the remote provinces need cars and already pay much higher than in Auckland for our Fuel, hope we dont end up paying for their moaning again.
Steve
Thank you 'Doctor' Cullen for another budget which not only doesn't put anything in our pocket, but takes even more out of it, again! How many people in the Auckland region will pay this increased petrol tax for a public transport system that doesn't reach them and is not likely to for the next 20 years, if ever?Surely this tax will increase our cost of living, and therefore will fuel inflation, which Labour is so concerned about reducing? Kiwi Saver? Yeah I would love to contribute...Oh that's right, any money I could have contributed to that will be spent on my increased petrol bill.
John (Auckland)
No I am not happy about paying more tax - even if it is hidden as 'fuel tax'. I pay far too much tax already. What I need is tax relief so I can pay down my huge mortgage. Labour will not win my vote like this.
Better products for richer people
For most of things we can spend our money on there is a kaleidoscope of variety from budget through to ultra-bling. If I want better than average I can generally spend more money to get it. Why then can't I spend more money to get to work faster? As I see it the real problem is not a lack of motorway, but a surplus of delusional Aucklanders who all want a platinum means of getting to work, but can only afford the plastic replica. What we all want is convenience, but everyone wants the same level of it; that is simply and physical not possible. End of story. Some people are going to be inconvenienced and it is going to be the ones who can't stomach the price.
Bryan
More residents of Auckland City, Waitakere City, and Franklin live near a railway line, than live near a motorway. In Manukau City, anyone who lives near a motorway also lives near a railway. Only North Shore City misses out on a railway, but all road users are paying for their busway.ARTA figures show rail use has grown at more than 30 per cent every year since Britomart opened. This has amply demonstrated the old adage "build it and they will come". The grand experiment started by the city planners in the 1950s, to force Aucklanders into cars by building motorways and destroying public transport, has been proven to be a failure. Just as the battered wife is bullied into staying in an abusive marriage by a manipulating husband, so have Aucklanders been forced into a "love affair" with their cars. And the benefit for anyone who has to use a car or truck, is that every new rail passenger means one less car on the roads. A win-win for everyone.
Rob
If this fuel tax is only going to raise $120 million a year its hardly going to pay for any major road or rail projects anywhere in NZ anytime soon. It seems weird that this is necessary when the govt as such a large surplus. By the way, does anyone know how much tax has been added to fuel since Labour were elected in 1999? I've lost track.
Sharon
Just another sign that Labour gives dough to families and then takes it away, this time through a petrol tax. When do you ever see a family on public transport? Hardly ever - it costs too much! Now the family trips in the weekend are going to be fewer and far between now! Good on ya Labour, start digging your grave now, may National cut this tax before it gets embedded and forgotten about!
Tim Spooner
Don't forget that there will be GST on top of this!! Nail in an election coffin. Key must be overjoyed by this.....
Andy Smith Walk Auckland
A very good tax if it is all spent on public transport. At last we can afford to leave our cars at home and use the buses and clean fast electric trains. I thank you car drivers for making my travel to work pleasant and relaxed. I hope to see you soon on the public transport.
Daniel Godfrey
About time they did this. Has anyone else noticed that the majority of people moaning here are from Auckland. Wake up people, I hope you realise that you already get petrol cheaper then the rest of the country anyway. And what gives you the right to expect the rest of the country to pay for Auckland roads that most of us will never drive on anyway. I get to Auckland maybe once every 6 months to see my parents, I drive up the Southern motorway into and back out. Yet I'm expected to pay for Auckland roads. This is a long overdue decision. And for the record, sounds like a lot of people expect the infrastructure but refuse to have to pay for it.
Billy
OK I will pay the extra 10cents to improve the roads. I do not want to pay the extra for more and more consultants and surveys. Fix the problem now and use the extra to pay of the loans.
Quit Whinning (down at the Casino)
Ewes voted for him. He controls the treasury. He's a socialist who believes that he knows the best way to spend your money. Finally he's a politician - which means he's saving up $5B of your taxes to buy your votes next year. Wake up, stoic, fairminded, middle NZ and vote the arrogant fool out in 2008. But then you'll probably take his bribes and vote them in for a 4th term. Cheers & Beers and let's have some more taxes eh Michael?
Confused
I keep hearing about this rail network but although I have lived in Auckland for some years now I am still unable to find it. I did stumble across a single-track railway line, which had some vintage carriages being hauled along by an old pollutant puffing diesel shunter, but I assumed this was for tourist amusement only. I even rode on it once, which confirmed my suspicion, given that it was unable to travel more than 3 kilometres without numerous stops along the way to allow the passengers a chance to view the arse end of various industrial estates. So is the government going to buy a 'real' railway network with this extra money or just frit it away on yet another monument to the inept use of taxpayer's money?
Abby, struggling to juggle student (Wellington)
I am a fulltime student living in Wellington, I am not entitled to any type of student allowance, therefore I have to also work 25+ hours a week to pay bills and living costs. I use the public transport system to get to work, and I use my car to get to school as it is a 25 minute drive and I am on a very tight schedule between work and school. I for one wish the public transport system was better - but I also cannot afford to keep living if the cost of living and petrol keeps increasing, and yet I don't earn any more than I did last year! I use my car because it would not work any other way, I basically have no choice. I do however limit its use, and use public transport whenever I possibly can. At the moment I put $20 here and there in my car to get to where I need to go -- sometimes I might even miss class because I'm a few days away from pay day and can't afford gas! Does the government want me to absolutely lose the plot trying to juggle all of these things when I can barely afford to keep my head above water?
Big Al
There it is - another Petrol Tax rise. Probably the worst kept secret this year. As I read the Your Views, I can't help but shake my head. I live on the North Shore, but I don't care about the fact the tax is spent on trains - I care about the fact that there are (seems continually increasing) local council tax's for public transport, Regional Council Taxes for public transport, and Central Govenment taxes for public transport. Has anyone actually seen documentation on where any of this tax money has actually gone on public transport? The only bright light I can see on this is that the Government has finally bowed to pressure, and will not lump the tax into the general coffers, so we can at least get some visibility.... and no I won't be getting out of my car.
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